Chairman s Chat. - Rod Harrison. Coming Up. Membership

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1 Registered Charity No IAM RoadSmart Group No Coming Up 23 February :30 Observers Meeting 2 March :30 Group Meeting BMW Technology of the Future. 11 March :00 Introduction to Advanced Driving Seminar Open to members of the public. 4 May :30 Skills Evening Maneuvering practice, observed drives, expert panel, and a talk about Smart Motorways. Membership Members: 139 Associates: 43 Friends: 05 Honorary members: 05 Total Membership: 192 National Observers: 08 Local Observers: 05 Trainee Observers: 01 Chairman s Chat A belated Happy New Year has been a record year for the Group. We achieved a total membership of 188, with 46 people joining during the year. 36 test passes were achieved. 20 young drivers were funded to take the Advanced Driver course during the year and we took 17 of them. Five of those have already passed the test. At the IAM RoadSmart conference in October we were classified amongst the top 5 performing groups in the country. At the AGM on 19th January we said goodbye and thank you to Sarah Goodwin as our treasurer over the last 2 years and welcomed Richard Lee, one of our Observers, as her replacement. Also formally joining the team was Matt Budrey as our Secretary designate. His position will be confirmed once he passes the advanced test in the not too distant future. Mel Higgins, our Newsletter editor was also elected on to the committee. Financially we start the year in a strong position with an excess of income over expenses last year of over This is in marked contrast of only 2 years ago where we were running at a loss. Changes that we have made since then and buoyant membership last year have made a significant difference. We are therefore in a much stronger financial position as we start 2017 to meet any challenges that arise. We appreciate and need your support as members, so if you haven t sent in your membership renewal yet, please do so. The membership fee remains at a modest Your contribution really helps us expand our activities. Finally, do come along to our Group meetings at Churchdown. We have a varied number of speakers and activities scheduled during the year. Bring your friends too. The website contains an updated list, and we will keep you informed via these newsletters too. Have a safe year on the roads and use our facilities to keep your skills up to scratch. Total Observers: 14 New Associates this year: 00 Test Passes this year: 02 F1RST passes this year: Rod Harrison Connect with us online: ~ ~ Page 1 of 6

2 Congratulations! From the Secretary (Designate) Members who have passed their test: Date Member Observer 03/12 Jon Cornall F1RST Angus Watson 03/12 Kate Oldridge F1RST Angus Watson 17/12 Dale Nunn F1RST Sylvia Martin 22/12 Dominic Elston Klim Seabright 28/12 Benjamin Wells Andrew Bowden 02/01 John Wallace James Hayward 10/01 Simon Dovaston Colin Hooker 13/01 Paul Richardson F1RST Richard Lee 21/01 Andy James Colin Hooker 28/01 Dominic Woodward F1RST Angus Watson Welcome to New Members! Kieran Roberts Carol Shergold Hannah Allen Abigail Freshwater Jez Holroyd I d like take this opportunity to say hello to the group and whilst still trying to find my feet, being new to both the IAM and the Group, I m looking forward to working with the group, supporting you and the committee over the next year. Already there has been the opportunity to attend the Central West Forum in Worcester, a very interesting event giving a good overview of the new organisational setup and RoadSmart branding. As a few of you may already know, I have a keen interest in classic cars and aircraft as well as the motoring and aviation industries in general. So, when time allows this includes wielding the odd spanner or an odd restoration project, the current one being a 1960 Jaguar 3.4 S. With that in mind it only seems right to learn to drive them properly. - Matt Budrey Tests Coming Up Nick Stewart Mark Price Contact the Editor Do you have any comments, suggestions, general feedback about this newsletter? Would you like to submit content to be considered for the newsletter? Please send your messages to Mel, our Editor, at: glosiameditor@gmail.com Volunteer Opportunities The Group Needs Your Help! We are a voluntary organisation and we rely on members coming forward to give a little of their spare time. We are always interested to hear from our group members if you are interested in joining the committee. Could you contribute to the Committee, or would you like to become an Observer? To find out more above the above roles, contact the Secretary (Desginate), Matthew Budrey. Page 2 of 6

3 You MUST use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet). You may also use front or rear fog lights but you MUST switch them off when visibility improves. Should I be using Fog Lights, or Dipped Headlights? By Mel Higgins This is a common dilemma for many drivers, which lights to use in fog, before we reveal the guidance, let s understand what fog actually is. Fog is where water vapour condenses to make very small water droplets. Fog happens when these water droplets condenses around air pollution or dust. Types of fog include: Flash fog: Fog forms and disappears quickly. Radiation fog: where heat generated during the day is transferred into the air forming water droplets. This usually appears at night and disappears in the morning. Advection fog: This is where warm humid air passes over a cool surface. Valley fog: mountains trap dense air from escaping its valleys; this fog can prove deadly, when mixed with high levels of air pollution. Freezing fog: water droplets freeze onto solid surfaces leaving a layer of frost behind. So which lights could and should you use? The Highway Code states: Driving: The Essential Skills attempts to help readers understand this rule even further saying: In daylight you must use your dipped headlights and/or front fog lights when visibility is seriously reduced. In darkness you might need to depend entirely on fog lights, or alternate between fog lights and dipped beams through stretches of think and thin fog. Here are some of your lighting options: It is illegal to use only your daytime running lights, or only side lights when driving in fog. Daytime running lights are only forward facing and do not light up the rear of the car, making you invisible to cars approaching from behind. Your sidelights will not help make your car stand out in fog, especially for those oncoming vehicles. Most people will drive through fog with either just their headlights on, or their headlights and their fog lights on, but it is better, safer, and perfectly legal to drive using sidelights AND front fog lights, as this is less likely to dazzle oncoming traffic, but also will help prevent you driving in a foggy whiteout which will make your journey safer too. As with anything, you should assess what is best in the situation you are in, for example in thinner fog your dipped headlights may be sufficient and will not dazzle other drivers. Would you like to do a skid training course? There could be 9 places for a half-day course with Sanden Driver Training at Throckmorton near Pershore. The date will be in April or May and costs 80 each. This is an excellent course so please forward your name to the Chairman if you are interested.. Page 3 of 6

4 Learner Drivers on the Motorway? By Mel Higgins On 30th December 2016 the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) and the DfT (Department for Transport) published an open consultation document online to discuss the proposal of allowing learner drivers to take lessons on motorways. Their reason is that younger drivers are more likely to get into a road traffic collision, and motorways are one of the safest roads to drive on, coupled with the fact younger drivers tend to avoid motorways. DVSA and DfT researched this issue thoroughly to feed into their proposal. They found that when compared with drivers aged over 25, younger drivers (aged 17-24) are statistically overrepresented in road collisions, mainly due to a lack of experience. One statistic they revealed is that in young drivers died in road collisions. Only 4% of those took place on motorways, 80% on rural roads, and 16% on urban roads. According to the report, motorways are safer roads, but are they? The consultation document published stated that many new drivers have expressed fear over using motorways, and thus avoid using them. If this is true, then the figures could be skewed. In normal driving you are far more likely to use rural and urban roads, so the number of opportunities to be involved in a collision on those roads would therefore be higher. Many younger drivers will be attending college or sixth form, driving to and from their first jobs after college which for most would likely only take them on local roads, rather than the motorway. The DVSA and DfT are proposing to allow learner drivers to be permitted to use the motorway to enable motorway lessons to be an option before a test. DVSA admits that motorway lessons are already available for people who have passed their test through the Pass Plus scheme but uptake appears to be very low. They cite international research which showed that the more real world practice a learner can get, the more prepared they will be for independent driving. Their reasons for wanting to allow learners on the motorway are to: gain a broad range of experience before driving independently and to develop a practical understanding of how to use motorways safely. Many ADIs have suggested this deregulation will not change what lessons learners ask for unless these lessons are compulsory, or included on the test. What are your thoughts on the latest proposal? To read the consultation and find out more follow this link: You can respond to the DVSA and DfT and give them your thoughts before 17 th February 2017: Completing the online form: ing DfT: learnersonmotorways@dft.gsi.gov.uk Or by post to: Learners on Motorways Consultation, Department for Transport RULIS Division, Zone 3/29, Great Minster House, 33 Horseferry Road London, SW1P 4DR Page 4 of 6

5 Singer Ed Sheeran Issued Road Safety Advice Following the Debut of his New Single Popular singer Ed Sheeran was issued with a road safety warning about one of his songs titled Castle on the Hill. Ed Sheeran sung the line driving at 90 down those country lanes. The local police have responded urging him to cut his speed and slow down on Suffolk roads, adding the phrase Drive to arrive. Reminder: Membership Renewal If you have not yet renewed your group membership, it is only 15 and was due on 1st January Your continued support would be really appreciated. Proposals to Change the Timing of a Cars First MOT The Government have announced that they are considering new plans for when new cars need to undergo their first MOT test. The plans being considered are that vehicles purchased new from 2018 would be required to have its MOT after 4 years, not 3 like current new cars. It would appear that currently public opinion is evenly split on whether to adopt this policy or not. The AA are concerned that this will have a negative impact on road safety where cars will be more likely to be driven with faulty or unsafe components. They acknowledge that drivers will have time and cost savings with this change too. The DfT suggests this saving to equate to 100 million across the industry. Serious Speeding Offence Penalties to be Increased In a bid to ensure fairness when issuing penalties for speeding, the penalties for serious speeding offences will be increased from April Fines for speeding currently start at 100% of an offender s weekly income, but this is due to change to 150% instead. It is hoped that the increased fine will encourage drivers to consider the consequences of speeding and deter them from speeding in the future. Comments made around this topic suggest that those drivers who have advanced training do not feel they have anything to prove, drive more safely, and to appropriate speeds for the condition of the roads. Page 5 of 6

6 Group Website Group Skills Evening Rod has made changes to our website to make it more straightforward to find things. Under About Us there is a section called Our Community. This section includes information on our Committee, Observers and how to join the Group. All events for the year have been updated and the Group Newsletters archive is now on the top menu. If you have any suggestions for the website, please let me know. If you do not have internet then the Newsletter will also contain the latest information on our events. We intend to hold a Skills evening on 4 th May at our usual location at Churchdown. The format of this evening depends on feedback from YOU. What we can offer is as follows: Short drives with an Observer to check that your skills are up to date. Manoeuvring practice in the Churchdown Car Park An Expert Panel comprising the Chairman, Observers and hopefully an Examiner to answer questions that you may have on driving. If you would like an Observed drive, or would like to practice manoeuvring then please or text the Chairman who will then make arrangements accordingly. The Expert panel will take place and form the main function of the evening and this will include a presentation on Smart Motorways. News from IAM RoadSmart IAM RoadSmart how now published the list of Area Service Delivery Managers (ASDM), The UK has been split into 8 areas and an ASDM has been appointed for each area. Our group is in area 4, covering the West Midlands and South Wales. Our ASDM is Robbie Downing and he lives in the northern part of Somerset. The ASDM role encompasses management of the groups in his area, standardisation and qualification of National Observers, Assessors and Examiners. A busy job. Robbie has a long police driving background including time as a police instructor. He is ideally qualified for the job and has been an IAM examiner for a long time. He is passionate about driving. Need to contact a member of the committee? Group Contacts Name Telephone Chairman/Chief Observer Rod Harrison glosiamchair@gmail.com Vice Chairman Tom Carr Secretary (Designate) Matthew Budrey glosiamsecretary@gmail.com Treasurer Richard Lee glosiamtreasurer@gmail.com Membership Secretary Andrew Bowden glosiammemsec@gmail.com Editor Mel Higgins glosiameditor@gmail.com Page 6 of 6